Gilco2: Hi all just an update. Problem with cats has been fixed and good entertainment watching them jump and flip at times. Very few cats come over now. The fix was costly $184 for a Scarecrow Sprinkler from Easytek. Sprays the cats with water when in range of the motion sensor. Works on dogs too. Harmless to the animals but sure gives them a fright. So no more problem

Any chance of posting a video, my wife reckons it would go viral on You Tube.

It was youtube where I found out about the Scarecrow Sprinkler. Quite a few videos already

Gilco2: Hi all just an update. Problem with cats has been fixed and good entertainment watching them jump and flip at times. Very few cats come over now. The fix was costly $184 for a Scarecrow Sprinkler from Easytek. Sprays the cats with water when in range of the motion sensor. Works on dogs too. Harmless to the animals but sure gives them a fright. So no more problem

Since this is Geekzone: I reckon there should be a cheaper-ish DIY option for this that could be cobbled up with an electronic sprinkler timer and a security PIR. Any ideas?

Since this is Geekzone, there should be a water auto-cannon, Aliens (or Korean military) style.

DonGould: I really did like the idea of the big hungry dog best myself. ;)

Doesn't always work. We had a cat problem where the cat was coming onto the property, pooing everywhere and attacking the dog. The damned thing would hide out on the top of fences and in trees and leap down onto the dog, trying to claw its eyes. It was becoming a major issue with the dog not just getting injured but also becoming nasty towards cats.

Fortunately, the local council in this part of the country does provide traps and services for disposing of problem cats.

In the couple of weeks I put the trap out I caught a cat every night. Every one of them was released after being hosed and now there's no more cat problem.

Personally, I think all cats should have to be registered, just like dogs. And all cats should have to be locked inside at night. It's not the cats that cause problems its irresponsible cat owners who let their cats run loose, creating havoc. Melbourne has the right idea - cats are legally trespassing if they are on somebody else's property and the owner can be fined.

Elpie: Personally, I think all cats should have to be registered, just like dogs. And all cats should have to be locked inside at night. It's not the cats that cause problems its irresponsible cat owners who let their cats run loose, creating havoc. Melbourne has the right idea - cats are legally trespassing if they are on somebody else's property and the owner can be fined.

+1 but I think you should have the right to humanely kill any animal that comes onto your property rather than have it's owner fined.

Elpie: Fortunately, the local council in this part of the country does provide traps and services for disposing of problem cats. In the couple of weeks I put the trap out I caught a cat every night. Every one of them was released after being hosed and now there's no more cat problem.

That is the most cost effective and satisfying method. How much would it cost to buy a trap?

Elpie: Fortunately, the local council in this part of the country does provide traps and services for disposing of problem cats. In the couple of weeks I put the trap out I caught a cat every night. Every one of them was released after being hosed and now there's no more cat problem.

That is the most cost effective and satisfying method. How much would it cost to buy a trap?

Not sure. I know they have them at Farmlands. But, even if you have a huge cat problem, you are unlikely to need one for more than a month tops so it would be much more cost-effective to borrow/hire one.

Elpie: Not sure. I know they have them at Farmlands. But, even if you have a huge cat problem, you are unlikely to need one for more than a month tops so it would be much more cost-effective to borrow/hire one.

Got a price from Auckland Council in a district plan fees document, $50 bond and $5 per day. So trap rental for a month is cheaper than buying an automatic water sprayer and a lot more fun. It is specifically for cats and possums. Also saw the SPCA claims to get a huge number of calls daily regarding stray cats, they also say it is a big problem.

Elpie: Not sure. I know they have them at Farmlands. But, even if you have a huge cat problem, you are unlikely to need one for more than a month tops so it would be much more cost-effective to borrow/hire one.

Got a price from Auckland Council in a district plan fees document, $50 bond and $5 per day. So trap rental for a month is cheaper than buying an automatic water sprayer and a lot more fun. It is specifically for cats and possums. Also saw the SPCA claims to get a huge number of calls daily regarding stray cats, they also say it is a big problem.

Reminds me of a mate from Auckland who moved to to Wellington and had a possum problem. He got a cage but kept catching cats not the possums he was after. Turns out he was using mince as bait :)

DonGould: I really did like the idea of the big hungry dog best myself. ;)

Doesn't always work.

The key word was 'idea'.

I like the idea of a big black dog just nashing its teeth and the cat exploding like a cartoon character, into a ball of fur, and then doing a runner for the hills or the dog snapping it up for lunch, giving you a grin then making a wink at you.

I read all the posts because some of the suggestions were just funny.

On the serious side the issue, it's just an out right pain. I fully agree with the suggestion that all animals should be micro tagged.

If an animal is bother you then you should have every right to trap it and just deliver it to the local SPCA office who should pass costs back to the owner or rehome or put down (sad as that might seem).

As far as I'm concerned, what the OP of this thread has had to put up with is just unreasonable.

In other cultures or days gone by, said cat would have been some ones dinner.

DonGould: I really did like the idea of the big hungry dog best myself. ;)

Doesn't always work.

The key word was 'idea'.

I like the idea of a big black dog just nashing its teeth and the cat exploding like a cartoon character, into a ball of fur, and then doing a runner for the hills or the dog snapping it up for lunch, giving you a grin then making a wink at you.

I read all the posts because some of the suggestions were just funny.

On the serious side the issue, it's just an out right pain. I fully agree with the suggestion that all animals should be micro tagged.

If an animal is bother you then you should have every right to trap it and just deliver it to the local SPCA office who should pass costs back to the owner or rehome or put down (sad as that might seem).

As far as I'm concerned, what the OP of this thread has had to put up with is just unreasonable.

In other cultures or days gone by, said cat would have been some ones dinner.